Balanced Introduction to Computer Science, A, 2nd Edition

About

Features

• Illustrations and Web-based tools illuminate key points and support active learning.

• Review questions end each of the computer science breadth chapters.

• Incremental exercises–Provides exercises that build upon one another; eventually new programs for solving interesting and engaging problems are created.

• “Common errors to avoid...”–Identifies and discusses common errors and points of confusion.

• “Designer secrets...”–Provides problem-solving and program design advice in special sections.

• Nine laboratory assignments–Corresponding to each programming depth chapter, this collection is available to supplement the text.

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Description

• Copyright 2008
• Dimensions: 8" x 10"
• Pages: 408
• Edition: 2nd

• Book
• ISBN-10: 0-13-601722-3
• ISBN-13: 978-0-13-601722-6

A BALANCED INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE

SECOND EDITION

DAVID REED

This new edition of A Balanced Introduction to Computer Science represents a unique and proven approach to introductory computer science courses. In contrast with traditional texts that focus almost exclusively on either breadth (a survey of computing concepts) or depth (programming and problem-solving), this text provides a balanced view of computing. Breadth chapters cover concepts and issues in computing that are most relevant to the beginning student, including computer terminology, the Internet and Web, algorithms and software, and technology's impact on society. Mixed among these topics are depth chapters that introduce fundamental programming concepts and skills with hands-on tutorials. Using HTML and the programming language JavaScript, students develop problem-solving skills as they design and implement interactive Web pages.

Breadth Chapters

• Breadth-based chapters focus on topics that are most relevant to a beginning student and are written in an engaging, easy-to-read style.
• Illustrations, photographs, and Web-based visualization tools are used extensively to illuminate key points.
• Each chapter ends with a Chapter Summary, which identifies key concepts, and Review Questions that encourage reflection and the integration of content from that chapter.
• For the second edition, new material has been added on recent developments and new technologies, including flash memory, cascading style sheets, Web accessibility standards, dual-core processors, online music formats, and bioinformatics

Depth Chapters

• Depth-based chapters are presented as hands-on tutorials, recognizing that the only way to learn programming and problem solving is to actually do it.
• Tutorial exercises follow an incremental approach, allowing students to master programming concepts by first studying and modifying existing programs before designing and implementing new programs that solve interesting problems.
• Program design and debugging advice is provided in special sections called "Designer secrets..." and "Common errors to avoid..."
• Each chapter includes a Chapter Summary that identifies key concepts, and Supplemental material and Exercises to facilitate further study.
• For the second edition, all code has been updated to meet current XHTML and ECMA standards, and Chapters 7 and 9 have been reorganized to emphasize event-driven programming and user interaction.

About the Author

David Reed is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in computer science from Duke University in 1992, and subsequently taught and conducted research at Duke University and Dickingon College before joining the faculty at Creighton in 2000. His primary interests are in artificial intelligence, programming languages, and computer science education, where he has published extensively on topics such as apprentice-based learning, Web-based programming, and innovative instructional methods in introductory computer science. He is a member of the Liberal Arts Computer Science Consortium and the Chief Reader for the Advanced Placement® Computer Science Exam since 2004.

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Sample Content

Table of Contents

0.      Introduction and Overview

Balancing Breadth and Depth

Text Goals

Text Features

Changes in the 2^nd Edition

Advice for the Student

Advice for the Instructor

Acknowledgements

1.      Computer Basics

What is a Computer?

Hardware

     Central Processing Unit (CPU)

     Memory

     Input/Output Devices (I/O)

Software

     Operating Systems

Internet and the Web

     Web Browsers and Servers

     Web Addresses

     Accessing Local Pages

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

2.      HTML and Web Pages

HTML Basics

     HTML Tags

     HTML Elements

Document Formatting

     Text Spacing

     Headings and Alignment

     Font Formatting

Hypertext and Multimedia

     Hyperlinks

     Images

Lists

  Formatting Lists

Tables

  Table Borders

  Table Alignment

Making Pages Accessible

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

3.      The Internet and the World Wide Web

History of the Internet

            ARPANet

     Growth and Privatization

How the Internet Works

     Distributed Network

     Packet-Switching

     Internet Protocols: TCP/IP

     Domain Names

History of the Web

     Hypertext and the Web

     The Web Goes Mainstream

     Web Growth

How the Web Works

     HTML

     Web Protocol: HTTP

     Caching

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

Endnotes

4.      JavaScript and Dynamic Web Pages

Dynamic Web Pages

     Interaction via Assignments and Write Statements

     Formatting Output

JavaScript Variables

Variables and Memory Cells

Interactive Pages

Localizing Changes with Variables

Example: Interactive Stories

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

 

5.      JavaScript Numbers and Expressions

Data Types and Operators

Variables and Expressions

Number Representation

Evaluating Mixed Expressions

Prompting for Numbers

Predefined JavaScript Functions

     Raising Numbers to a Power

            Generating Random Numbers

Programming Errors and Debugging

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

6.      The History of Computers

Generation 0: Mechanical Computers (1642-1945)

Programmable Devices

Electromagnetic Relays

Generation 1: Vacuum Tubes (1945-1954)

Computing and World War II

The von Neumann Architecture

Generation 2: Transistors (1954-1963)

High-Level Programming Languages

Generation 3: Integrated Circuits (1963-1973)

     Large-Scale Integration

     Computing for Businesses

Generation 4: VLSI (1973-1985)

The Personal Computer Revolution

Generation 5: Parallel Processing and Networking  (1985-????)

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

Endnotes

7.      Event-Driven Pages

Initiating Actions via Buttons

Input/Output via Text Boxes

Text Boxes for Displaying Output

Text Boxes for Accessing Input

Text Boxes for Handling Both Input and Output

Input/Output via Text Areas

Dynamic Images

Simplifying Buttons with Functions

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

8.      Algorithms and Programming Languages

Algorithms

Algorithms in the Real World

Designing and Analyzing Algorithms

An Alternative Algorithm

Algorithm Analysis

Big Oh Notation

Algorithm Example: Searching a List

  Sequential Search

  Binary Search

  Algorithm Analysis

Algorithm Example: Approximating a Square Root

  Algorithm Analysis

Algorithms and Programming

  Machine Languages

  High-Level Languages

Program Translation

     Interpreters and Compilers

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

9.      Abstraction and User-Defined Functions

    The Structure of Functions

Functions with Inputs

Multiple Inputs

Parameters as Local Variables

Functions that Return Values

The random.js Library

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

10.  Computer Science as a Discipline

Computer "Science"

Artificial Science

Computer Science Themes

Hardware

Software

Theory

Subfields of Computer Science

Algorithms and Data Structures

     Architecture

     Operating Systems and Networks

     Software Engineering

     Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

     Bioinformatics

The Ethics of Computing

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

11.  Conditional Execution

If Statements

     Boolean Tests

Nested If Statements

Cascading If-else Statements

Example: Counting Dice Rolls

Counters

Boolean Expressions

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

12.  Data Representation

Analog v. Digital

Binary Numbers

Representing Integers

Representing Real Numbers

Representing Characters and Strings

Representing Other Types of Data

     Sound

     Images

How Computers Distinguish among Data Types

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

13.  Conditional Repetition

While Loops

Counter-driven Loops

Variables and Repetition

Example: Generating Hailstone Sequences

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

14.  Inside the Computer — The von Neumann Architecture

CPU Subunits and Datapath

CPU Subunits

CPU Datapath Cycles

Datapath Simulator

CPU and Main Memory

  Transferring Data to and from Main Memory

  Datapath with Memory Simulator

Stored-Program Computer

Machine Languages

Control Unit

Stored-Program Computer Simulator

The Role of Input/Output Devices

Machine vs. Assembly Languages

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

15.  JavaScript Strings

Strings as Objects

Properties and Methods

Common String Manipulation Methods

String Concatenation

Searching Strings

General Searches

String Manipulations and Repetition

Example: Recognizing Palindromes

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

16.  Inside the Computer — Transistors and Integrated Circuits

Electricity and Switches

Electricity Basics

Switches

Transistors

Transistors as Switches

From Transistors to Gates

Circuits

Gates and Binary Logic

From Gates to Complex Circuits

Circuits

Example: Designing Memory Circuitry

From Circuits to Microchips

The Integrated Circuit

Manufacturing Integrated Circuits

Packaging Microchips

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

17.  JavaScript Arrays

Arrays as Objects

Accessing Items in an Array

     Assigning Items in an Array

From Strings to Arrays

The split Method for Strings

    Example: Generating Acronyms

Arrays of Numbers

Example: Maintaining Dice Statistics using an Array

Approach 1: Separate Counters

Approach 2: An Array of Counters

Looking Ahead…

Chapter Summary

Supplemental Material and Exercises

18.  Computers and Society

Positive Impact of Technology

Computers and Programs for Everyday Tasks

The Internet and Web as Information Sources

     The Internet and Web as Communication Media

     The Internet and Web for Commerce

Potential Dangers of Technology

Reliance on Complex Systems

     Information Overload

     Privacy and Security

     The Digital Divide

Looking Beyond…

Chapter Summary

Review Questions

References

APPENDIX A:  Browser Basics

APPENDIX B:  Common Text Editors

APPENDIX C:  HTML Reference

APPENDIX D:  JavaScript Reference

APPENDIX E:  random.js Library

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